Rochester police seek public’s help to find iPad, tablet thief

ROCHESTER — Police are asking for help identifying a man who is a person of interest in the theft of numerous iPads and Samsung tablets from around the region.

After asking clerks to show him hand-held computers from behind locked cases, the man looked at them before running out the door of stores in Greenland, Newington, Rochester and Somersworth in New Hampshire and in Biddeford and South Portland in Maine, according to police.

Police are urging retailers to take notice and believe the man has struck stores in other communities.

Officer Tracy Hayes, who noticed the pattern of similar thefts, said at least 10 iPads and tablets — which cost several hundred dollars each — were stolen from stores in Rochester.

“I do not know the specific iPads that were stolen in other towns, so I do not know the exact costs,” Hayes said in an e-mail.

“The employees at the retailers that were hit have identified the same person,” Hayes said.

Any retailers interested in gaining access to RetailersLink.com — which provides more information about retail crimes, ongoing trends, arrests and other details — should contact Hayes at (603) 330-7111 or e-mail her at Tracy.Hayes@RochesterNH.net.

Using surveillance footage, which include images of the man with facial hair and more recently clean-shaven, police hope some residents in the area can provide more information about his identity, whereabouts or other activities.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Rochester Police at (603) 330-7127. To place an anonymous tip, call the Rochester Crimeline at (603) 335-6500 or submit a tip via text at CRIMES (274637) by typing Text4Cash in the body along with the tip. Tips leading to an arrest could result in a cash reward.